---

Gas Power

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the Rio 2 treaty on United Kingdom policy towards gas power. [11102]

Mr. Battle: I have been asked to reply.

The United Nations General Assembly special session on 23 to 27 June 1997 did not result in any treaty commitments. However, in considering applications for gas-fired and other forms of power stations, we will ensure consistency with the wide objectives of secure, diverse and sustainable supplies of energy at competitive prices and meeting environmental targets.

Waste Minimisation

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on existing targets set to minimise waste within his Department; [11527]

(2) what plans he has to introduce a waste minimisation strategy for his Department. [11526]

Angela Eagle: The former Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport set targets, respectively, for a 15 and 20 per cent. reduction in waste from their headquarter buildings by March 1998. An appropriate waste minimisation target and strategy for the new Department is being considered.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 551

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the amount, and proportion, of paper recycled by his Department in each of the last five years. [11528]

Angela Eagle: The amount of paper recycled for the Department's headquarters buildings is as follows:

Year	Total paper recycled in DETR HQ buildings (Tonnes)
1992-1993	202
1993-1994	220
1994-1995	198
1995-1996	146
1996-1997	119
Total 1992-97	885

HOME DEPARTMENT

Shiji Lapite (Unlawful Killing)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Metropolitan police intend to take in respect of the unlawful killing of Shiji Lapite; and if he will make a statement. [11283]

Mr. Michael: The matter is now in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the decision not to institute criminal proceedings. The Police Complaints Authority will review its decision not to pursue a disciplinary charge in this case, but cannot do so until the outcome of the DPP's review of the papers. The Metropolitan police have undertaken to co-operate fully.

Animal Experimentation

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the report of the National Anti-Vivisection society, "Access Denied", a copy of which has been sent to him. [11280]

Mr. George Howarth: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), Official Report, column 258.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newark (Ms Jones) of 24 July, Official Report, column 681, if all the animals he lists as being at Huntingdon Life Sciences are currently being used in experiments. [11618]

Mr. Howarth: The figures given in that answer were estimates of the number of animals currently held by the establishment. A large majority of these animals will be undergoing regulated procedures.

Under section 15 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, where a protected animal has been subjected to regulated procedures and where, at the conclusion of the procedures, the animal is suffering or is likely to suffer adverse effects, it must be killed by an approved method.

More precise figures for the number of animals which would need to be killed could be established only at disproportionate cost.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 552

Asylum Seekers

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applicants for asylum before August 1993 are (a) awaiting a decision on their application and (b) awaiting an appeal hearing against refusal of asylum; [11514]

(2) how many appeals against refusal of asylum, listed by nationality of applicant and by date of application, are awaiting decision; [11513]

(3) how many applications for asylum made to his Department, listed by nationality of applicant and by year of application, are awaiting decision. [11512]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Information on the number of applications awaiting an initial decision in the asylum directorate, as at the end of June 1997, is given in the tables. Of the total, 53.025, it is estimated that 11,300 were applications made prior to August 1993.

As at the end of June 1997, there were approximately 24,000 asylum appeals yet to be determined. I regret that the breakdowns requested, by nationality and year of application, are not available.

Table 1: Asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 30 June 1997(25) ² , >(27)

	Number
Europe
Bulgaria	770
Cyprus	585
Poland	640
Romania	570
Former USSR	3,225
Turkey	4,275
Former Yugoslavia	3,275
Others	310
Total	13,645
Americas
Colombia	2,440
Others	2,300
Total	4,745
Middle East
Iran	1,110
Iraq	1,085
Lebanon	380
Others	1,140
Total	3,710
Africa
Algeria	530
Angola	1,220
Cameroon	185
Ethiopia	1,140
Gambia	640
Ghana	2,660
Ivory Coast	455
Kenya	2,170
Liberia	330
Nigeria	3,480
Rwanda	285
Sierra Leone	830
Somalia	690
South Africa	60
Sudan	795
Tanzania	485
Togo	155
Uganda	855
Zaire	3,165
Zimbabwe	145
Others	555
Total	20,825
Asia
Afghanistan	685
Bangladesh	1,045
China	1,825
India	1,070
Pakistan	1,825
Sri Lanka	2,740
Others	695
Total	9,890
Other and unknown nationalities	205
Grand total	53,025

(25) Excluding dependents.

(26) Figures rounded to the nearest five.

(27) Takes into account recent revisions to the number of in-country applications lodged in January to May 1997.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 553

Table 2: Asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 30 June 1997 by year of application(28)

Year of application	Percentage
Pre 1992	5
1992	10
1993	10
1994	20
1995	30
1996	15
1997(29)	10
Total	53,025 (100 per cent.)

(28) Estimates rounded to the nearest 5 per cent.

(29) January to June.

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people refused asylum in the United Kingdom since August 1993, listed by year of application, have (a) applied for and (b) been granted leave to remain on (i) exceptional, (ii) marriage and (iii) other grounds. [11502]

Mr. O'Brien: The available information is given in the table.

Number(30) of persons refused asylum but granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom, August 1993 to June 1997Principal applicants

	Year of decision
	1993 August to December	1994	1995	1996	1997(33) January to June
Type of leave granted
Exceptional leave to remain(31)	790	3,660	4,410	5,050	1,450
Leave to remain as a spouse(32)	50	150	270	330	120
Other leave(32)	10	20	40	40	30

(30) Figures rounded to nearest 10 and exclude dependants.

(31) Relates to those persons granted exceptional leave to remain at the time of being refused asylum.

(32) Relates to those refused asylum seekers subsequently granted leave to remain on non-asylum grounds.

(33) Provisional.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 554

Assaults on Police

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each police force in England and Wales and for each year since 1992 (a) the total number of sickness days taken due to assault, (b) the average number of days lost per police officer due to assault and (c) the total cost to each police force. [11505]

Mr. Michael: The information requested is shown in the table. Information on the total cost of the days lost as a result of assaults on police officers is not held centrally.

Total number of days sick leave due to assault

Forces	1993	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97
Avon and Somerset	906	1,106	(34)--	2,090
Bedfordshire	341	247	334	750
Cambridgeshire	400	270	219	377
Cheshire	1,119	221	799	653
City of London	9	145	46	(34)--
Cleveland	1,069	513	392	417
Cumbria	457	271	512	260
Derbyshire	1,502	612	814	756
Devon and Cornwall	712	445	574	920
Dorset	490	492	37	140
Durham	448	602	817	438
Dyfed-Powys	557	251	306	495
Essex	582	469	749	275
Gloucestershire	482	319	149	323
Greater Manchester	1,427	2,413	2,492	1,647
Gwent	342	90	132	669
Hampshire	1,535	537	1,026	(34)--
Hertfordshire	214	218	101	268
Humberside	727	627	458	276
Kent	400	593	302	207
Lancashire	1,160	1,016	1,779	950
Leicestershire	469	992	598	550
Lincolnshire	709	697	719	601
Merseyside	2,825	3,325	3,160	2,229
Metropolitan police	11,323	11,686	5,000	9,723
Norfolk	256	289	(34)--	111
North Wales	61	71	28	450
North Yorkshire	119	76	86	33
Northamptonshire	370	339	69	486
Northumbria	4,048	2,596	2,471	2,453
Nottinghamshire	1,161	700	776	876
South Wales	3,414	2,502	2,455	1,316
South Yorkshire	697	1,040	482	607
Staffordshire	345.50	346	401	483
Suffolk	122	66	75	778
Surrey	240	100	282	216
Sussex	738	798	688	1,050
Thames Valley	668	895	1,073	896
Warwickshire	375	382	379	312
West Mercia	504	398	427	773
West Midlands	2,054.19	2,806	2,165	3,072
West Yorkshire	2,017	1,318	(34)--	2,476
Wiltshire	249	179	259	320
Provincial total	36,320.69	31,302	(35)28,631	(35)31,999
England and Wales total	47,643.69	42,988	(35)33,631	(35)41,506

(34) Information not available.

(35) Incomplete totals.

Average number of days sick leave per assault

Forces	1993	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97
Avon and Somerset	10.53	21.69	(36)--	14.72
Bedfordshire	13.12	9.15	9.28	25.86
Cambridgeshire	17.39	15.00	14.60	25.13
Cheshire	19.29	9.61	19.49	13.06
City of London	3.00	24.17	9.20	(36)--
Cleveland	19.80	17.69	9.80	13.45
Cumbria	19.04	10.42	16.52	10.00
Derbyshire	32.65	14.23	18.93	12.60
Devon and Cornwall	10.79	9.08	13.67	20.00
Dorset	18.85	28.94	4.63	15.56
Durham	13.18	12.29	18.16	18.25
Dyfed-Powys	27.85	10.04	9.00	11.79
Essex	10.39	12.34	14.69	9.82
Gloucestershire	17.21	9.38	13.55	10.09
Greater Manchester	8.49	16.87	22.86	11.60
Gwent	21.38	7.50	11.00	22.30
Hampshire	17.64	13.77	17.10	(36)--
Hertfordshire	9.30	10.38	25.25	14.11
Humberside	12.32	22.39	12.38	8.36
Kent	9.30	11.40	7.55	6.27
Lancashire	12.08	10.92	25.06	12.18
Leicestershire	8.53	15.90	11.73	9.33
Lincolnshire	12.66	18.34	23.19	17.68
Merseyside	20.62	23.58	24.12	22.07
Metropolitan police	12.36	12.21	13.70	23.10
Norfolk	7.11	14.45	(36)--	8.56
North Wales	4.36	5.92	3.50	13.64
North Yorkshire	7.93	10.86	7.82	8.25
Northamptonshire	18.50	26.08	8.63	17.36
Northumbria	21.31	21.11	23.09	20.97
Nottinghamshire	20.73	12.96	14.92	17.88
South Wales	21.88	19.86	25.31	13.29
South Yorkshire	20.50	26.67	11.21	7.78
Staffordshire	9.34	7.36	10.84	14.21
Suffolk	6.78	9.43	5.77	12.75
Surrey	10.43	11.11	16.59	10.29
Sussex	17.57	17.73	21.50	26.25
Thames Valley	22.27	24.86	39.74	22.97
Warwickshire	14.42	13.17	10.83	12.48
West Mercia	14.82	9.71	13.34	12.67
West Midlands	13.97	9.95	13.53	21.04
West Yorkshire	13.36	13.05	(36)--	4.01
Wiltshire	10.83	8.95	17.27	15.24
Provincial total	15.51	15.11	(37)17.44	(37)12.47
England and Wales total	14.62	14.20	(37)16.76	(37)13.98

(36) Information not available.

(37) Incomplete totals.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 555

Average number of days sick leave due to assault per officer

Forces	1993	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97
Avon and Somerset	0.3	0.4	(38)--	0.7
Bedfordshire	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.7
Cambridgeshire	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3
Cheshire	0.6	0.1	0.4	0.3
City of London	0.0	0.2	0.1	0.0
Cleveland	0.7	0.4	0.3	0.3
Cumbria	0.4	0.2	0.4	0.2
Derbyshire	0.8	0.3	0.5	0.4
Devon and Cornwall	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3
Dorset	0.4	0.4	0.0	0.1
Durham	0.3	0.4	0.6	0.3
Dyfed-Powys	0.6	0.3	0.3	0.5
Essex	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.1
Gloucestershire	0.4	0.3	0.1	0.3
Greater Manchester	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.2
Gwent	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.5
Hampshire	0.5	0.2	0.3	0.0
Hertfordshire	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2
Humberside	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.1
Kent	0.1	0.2	0.1	0.1
Lancashire	0.4	0.3	0.6	0.3
Leicestershire	0.3	0.5	0.3	0.4
Lincolnshire	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5
Merseyside	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.5
Metropolitan police	0.4	0.4	0.2	(38)--
Norfolk	0.2	0.2	(38)--	0.1
North Wales	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.3
North Yorkshire	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.0
Northamptonshire	0.3	0.3	0.1	0.4
Northumbria	1.1	0.7	0.7	0.7
Nottinghamshire	0.5	0.3	0.3	0.4
South Wales	1.1	0.8	0.8	(38)--
South Yorkshire	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2
Staffordshire	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Suffolk	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.7
Surrey	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1
Sussex	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.3
Thames Valley	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2
Warwickshire	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3
West Mercia	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.4
West Midlands	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.4
West Yorkshire	0.4	0.3	(38)--	0.5
Wiltshire	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.3
Provincial total	0.4	0.3	(39)0.3	(39)0.3
England and Wales total	0.4	0.3	(39)0.3	(39)0.4

(38) Information not available.

(39) Incomplete totals.

31 Jul 1997 : Column: 556

---